Traction cleat and drive belt with such attached

ABSTRACT

A traction cleat for a snowmobile drive belt which provides for resistance to slippage in both the longitudinal and transverse direction relative to the snowmobile and which comprises a base with longitudinal, latitudinal, and vertical dimensions, and a plurality of projections which (1) are integral with said base, (2) all extend in the same and vertical direction from said base, and (3) are spaced along the longitudinal dimension of said base, said projections being aligned longitudinally relative to said base such that there are at least two longitudinal alignments of projections with the projections of at least one of said alignments being at an angle of less than 90* relative to the longitudinal-latitudinal plane of said base; and a drive belt with said cleats attached thereto.

United States Patent Kilbane, Jr. 7

TRACTION CLEAT AND DRIVE BELT WITH SUCH ATTACHED Inventor:

Filed:

James Anthony Kilbane, Jr.,

Excelsior, Minn.

Assignee: Norman W. Lund, Excelsior, Minn.

; a part interest Dec. 2, 1970 Appl. No.: 94,396

[52] US. Cl. 305/35 EB [51] Int. Cl.. B62d 55/24 [58] Field of Search 305/35 EB, 38, 39, 54; 152/225-228; 180/5 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,485,312 12/1969 Swenson 180/5 2,423,544 8/1947 Acton 305/29 1,809,782 6/1931 H0ffman.... 152/227 3,164,417 1/1965 Howes i 305/32 3,477,768 11/1969 Culver 305/54 1,290,474 1/1919 Achberger..... 152/227 1,154,321 09/1915 Kinnel 180/5 2/1943 Broadwater 180/5 3,550,968 12/1970 Ryrnes 305/35 EB FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 122,221 11/1927 Switzerland 152/228 819,866

7/1937 France 152/228 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gary L. Griswold, Esq.

[ ABSTRACT A traction cleat for a snowmobile drive belt which provides for resistance to slippage in both the longitudinal and transverse direction relative to the snowmobile and which comprises a base with longitudinal, latitudinal, and vertical dimensions, and a plurality of projections which (1) are integral with said base, (2) all extend in the same and vertical direction from said base, and (3) are spaced along the longitudinal dimension of said base, said projections being aligned longitudinally relative to said base such that there are at least two longitudinal alignments of projections with the projections of at least one of said alignments being at an angle of less than 90 relative to the longitudinallatitudinal plane of said base; and a drive belt with said cleats attached thereto.

10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDHARZS 1974 3,799,626

sum 1 or 2 F 5 INVENTOR JAMES ANTHONY KILBANE, JR. 8 L I: 7 3 fl fi l2 AGENT mmmmze 1974 sum 2 {IF 2 l9 w o INVENTOR JAMES ANTHONY KILBANE,JR.

AGENT TRACTION CLEAT AND DRIVE BELT WITH SUCH ATTACHED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved traction cleat for drive belts. Particularly, this invention relates to a traction cleat for a snowmobile drive belt which provides for resistance to slipping in both the longitudinal and transverse direction relative to the snowmobile.

In the manufacture of snowmobile drive belts it is the normal practice to attach along the longitudinal dimension of such belts cleats which run substantially the width of the belt. Such cleats normally have a cross sec tion shaped like a U and have the bottom of the U attached to the belt, the bottom of the U being uniplanar. The cleats give longitudinal traction to the snowmobile but do not provide sufficient resistance to transverse slippage of the snowmobile. Short and narrower U- shaped additions with the upper portion of the U pointed have been riveted to the drive belt inside and on top of the aforesaid cleats. Such additions have proved unsatisfactory in producing the required resistance to slipping and also were not satisfactory in their ability to withstand the stress applied to such. Therefore, a satisfactory cleat was sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Such a traction cleat for a drive belt has been found. It comprises a base with longitudinal, latitudinal, and vertical dimensions, and a plurality of projections which (I) are integral with saidbase, (2) all extend in the same and vertical direction from said base, and (3) are spaced along the longitudinal dimension of said base, said projections being aligned longitudinally relative to said base such that there are at least two longitudinal alignments of projections with the projections of at least one of said alignments of projections being at an angle of less than 90 relative to the longitudinallatitudinal plane of said base.

The traction cleat when attached to the drive belt forms a traction drive belt which comprises a belt with longitudinal, latitudinal, and vertical dimensions and a plurality of the aforesaid traction cleats attached thereto, said cleats being all spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the same surface of the belt with the longitudinal dimension of said traction cleats corresponding to the latitudinal dimension of the belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of the traction cleat.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of FIG. 1 indicating the longitudinal alignment of the traction cleat.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the traction cleat of FIG. 1 indicating the latitudinal alignment and edge profile of the traction cleat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a snowmobile drive belt with traction cleats attached thereto, the drive belt being on bogie wheels.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 4 with a part en larged.

FIG. 6 is a cross section for a traction cleat embodying a different longitudinal alignment from that shown in the cross section in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 depicts a side view of a traction cleat indicating a different edge profile embodiment from that of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 depicts a. side view of a traction cleat indicating a different edge profile embodiment from those of FIGS. 3 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of the traction cleat.

FIG. 10 is a cross section of the embodiment of the traction cleat of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a partial side view of the embodiment of the traction cleat of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The traction cleat as described above can vary in the type of base and projections. FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the cleat. The base I of the cleat in FIG. 1 has a first substantially uniplanar layer IA with a second substantially uniplanar layer 2 and 3 extending from each of the two latitudinal sides of said first layer running the longitudinal dimension of said first substantially uniplanar layer 1A, said second layers 2 and 3 both being integral with said first layer 1A, both being extended in the same direction from said first layer IA which is the vertical dimension of said base I and both being extended at about a angle to said first layer 1A. The base 1 of the cleat has projections 4, 5, 6, 7 integral with and extending from it in its vertical direction, said projections being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the base 1. The longitudinal spacing of the projections 4, 5, 6, 7 shown in detail in FIG. 3, is such that the projections 4 and 6 are in latitudinal alignment with the spaces between the projections 5 and 7 and vice versa. The traction cleat has holes 8 which are means for attaching the cleat to the drive belt via rivets, bolts, etc., (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a cross section of FIG. 1 and indicates the alignment of the projections 4, 5, 6 7 along the longitudinal dimension of the cleat. The base 1 with the holes 8 are again shown. The projections form four longitudinal alignments of projections, two from each of the second substantially uniplanar layers 2 and 3 of the base 1, depicted as 4,5, 6 and 7 with the projections of all four alignments of projections being at an angle of less than 90 relative to the longitudinal-latitudinal plane (first substantially uniplanar layer 1A) of the base 1. Normally, the projections will be at an angle of greater than about 45 relative to the longitudinal-latitudinal plane of the base. The varying longitudinal alignments of the projections and angular orientation of such gives the cleat resistance to slippage in the longitudinal dimension of the cleat or in the transverse dimension of the snowmobile.

FIG. 3 indicates the latitudinal alignment and edge profile of the cleat of FIG. 1. The edge profile of the cleat of FIG. 1 depicts the projections 4, 5, 6, 7 as curved while the latitudinal alignment of the projections is such that projection 5 is latitudinally aligned with the space 9 between projections 4 and 6.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a drive belt 10 on bogie wheels 11 of a snowmobile. The snowmobile is not shown. In some snowmobiles some or all of the bogie wheels are replaced by a polymeric material slide frame. The drive belt with cleats attached of this invention is also useful on such slide frames or on any other arrangement for holding the drive belt for rotation. Along the longitudinal dimension and same surface of the drive belt 10 which has longitudinal, latitudinal and vertical dimensions is attached a plurality of cleats 12 with the longitudinal dimension of the cleats corresponding to the latitudinal dimension of the belt. The bottom of the side view indicates the position of the cleats 12 as they would be when in operative association with the material over which the snowmobile is moving such as snow or ice.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the traction drive belt of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 indicates that the cleats 12 run substantially the latitudinal dimension of the belt 10. The enlargement indicates that the cleats 12 are attached to the drive belt 10 by rivets 13 through holes 8 of the cleats 12. Other means of attachment such as bolts can be utilized.

FIG. 6 depicts a different longitudinal alignment for the projections from that shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment of the cleat, the base 1 and holes 8' are the same as those in FIG. 1. The longitudinal alignment of the projections is such that there are four alignments of projections 6, 7, 14 and 15 but the projections of only two alignments 6' and 7' are at an angle of less than 90 relative to the longitudinal-latitudinal plane (first substantially uniplanar layer 1A) of base 1' while the projections of alignments of projections 14 and 15 are at about a 90 angle to the longitudinal-latitudinal plane (first substantially uniplanar layer 1A) of base 1'.

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of a cleat showing rectangular shaped projections 16 while FIG. 8 is a partial side view of a cleat with triangular shaped projections 17. In both FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 the latitudinal alignment of the projections is such that the projections are in line latitudinally.

FIG. 9 is a top view ofa preferred embodiment of the cleat. In this embodiment there are three alignments of projections l8, l9 and 20, 21, 22 and 23 extending from each of the latitudinal sides 26 and 27 of the base 24 of the cleat which also contains holes 25, i.e., means for attaching the cleat to the drive belt. The base 24 has latitudinal, longitudinal and vertical dimensions and is substantially uniplanar. From FIG. 11 which is a partial side view of the cleat of FIG. 9, it can be seen that the projections of the longitudinal alignments of projections l8, l9 and extending from the latitudinal side 26 of the base 24 of the cleat are integral with each other. This is true of projections of alignments of projections 21, 22 and 23 extending from the latitudinal side 27 of the base 24 of the cleat. It can be seen from FIG. 9 that the latitudinal alignment of the projections is such that corresponding projections, i.e., l8 and 21, 19 and 22, and 20 and 23 are aligned.

It can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 that the projections of the three alignments of projections l8, l9 and 20 from latitudinal side 26 of the base 24 and 21, 22 and 23 from latitudinal side 27 of the base 24 are substantially equal in the distance to which they extend in the vertical direction from the base 24. From FIG. 10, it can also be seen that all three alignments of projections l8, l9 and 20 from latitudinal side 26 and 21, 22 and 23 from latitudinal side 27 of the base 24 are at an angle of less than 90 but greater than about 45 relative to the longitudinal-latitudinal plane of the base 24.

FIG. 9 shows that each of the middle longitudinal alignments of projections 20, 23 of the three longitudinal alignments of projections 18, 19, 20 and 21, 22, 23 extending from the two latitudinal sides 26 and 27 of the base 24 comprise two projections, i.e., for alignment 20 projections 28 and 29 and for alignment 23, projections 30 and 31. The projections of the middle alignments of projections are located along the longitudinal dimension of the cleat 24 such that there is a plurality of projections 32, 33, and 34, 35 from each of the other two longitudinal alignments of projections 18, 19 and 21, 22 extending from each of the latitudinal sides 26, 27 of the base 24 at each of the two longitudinal extremes of the cleat and a plurality of projections 36 and 37 from each of the other two longitudinal alignments of projections 18, 19 and 21, 22 extending from each of the latitudinal sides 26, 27 of the base 24 at the longitudinal center of the cleat. One of the two projections 28, 29 and 30, 31 of the middle alignment of projections 20, 23 separates the plurality of projections on each extreme 32, 33 and 34, 35 from the plurality of projections 36, 37 at the longitudinal center of the cleat. The middle alignments of projections comprising two projections are normally present in the cleats depicted in all the figures for these two, normally longer, projections are the point on the cleat which contacts the drive wheels from the driving mechanism, i.e., motor, etc. of the snowmobile. A plurality of projections at these two points on the cleat would normally have an adverse effect on such drive wheels.

The traction cleats may be made of hard rubber, steel, iron, other ferrous and nonferrous metals and polymeric material such as nylon, etc. and can be manufactured by any conventional method such as molding for the hard rubber and polymeric material, and rolling, stamping, casting or drop-forging of the metals.

The drive belts to which the traction cleats are attached can be any type of conventional endless drive belt utilized in equipment for moving on snow, ice, or substances with a similar consistency and are normally made of rubber, polyurethane, etc.

As stated above, the cleats may be attached to the drive belt of the snowmobile by rivets, bolts, etc. with the method not being critical. If the traction cleat is hard rubber or polymeric material such as nylon, it can be integral with the belt, i.e., molded as part of the belt or can be heat bonded to the belt.

The above description is a description of preferred embodiments of the invention. Many variations and modifications within the spirit of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art and such are considered to fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An antiskid cleat for attaching to a drive track of a snowmobile comprising a channel shaped structure formed from a blank of metal material and having a substantially planar base and a pair of legs formed integral with and extending outwardly from said base on oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base, each of the oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base being formed into a plurality of smooth curves in longitudinal direction, the outer faces of said legs extending from said base undulating with the curved margins at the junction area of said base and legs, the undulating faces extending to the outwardly extending edges of said legs so that said legs and edges thereon thereby undulate toward and away from a longitudinally extending plane normal to said base, the offset distance of adjacent undulations from said plane being greater than the thickness of the material of said legs to present surfaces on said legs extending laterally to said longitudinal plane for resisting skids in longitudinal direction of said cleat.

2. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 1 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.

3. A cleat for a traction drive belt of a snowmobile comprising a channel-shaped structure having a substantially planar base, a pair of legs formed integral with and extending outwardly from said base on oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base, at least one of said oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base being formed into a plurality of smooth curves in the longitudinal direction, the outer face of the leg extending from said margin formed into a plurality of smooth curves undulating with the curved margin at the junction area of said base and said leg, the undulating face extending to the outwardly extending edges of said leg so that said leg and edges thereon thereby undulate toward and away from a longitudinally extending plane normal to said base to present surfaces on said leg extending laterally to said longitudinal plane for resisting skids in the longitudinal direction of said cleat.

4. The cleat of claim 3 in which each of said oppositely disposed'longitudinal margins of said base has a cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.

6. The cleat of claim 4 in which the offset distance of adjacent undulations from said longitudinally extending plane normal to said base is greater than the thickness of the material of said legs.

7. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 6 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.

8. The cleat of claim 3 in which the offset distance of adjacent undulations from said longitudinally extend ing plane normal to said base is greater than the thickness of the material of said leg.

9. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 8 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.

10. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 3 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said baseof said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt. 

1. An antiskid cleat for attaching to a drive track of a snowmobile comprising a channel shaped structure formed from a blank of metal material and having a substantially planar base and a pair of legs formed integral with and extending outwardly from said base on oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base, each of the oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base being formed into a plurality of smooth curves in longitudinal direction, the outer faces of said legs extending from said base undulating with the curved margins at the junction area of said base and legs, the undulating faces extending to the outwardly extending edges of said legs so that said legs and edges thereon thereby undulate toward and away from a longitudinally extending plane normal to said base, the offset distance of adjacent undulations from said plane being greater than the thickness of the material of said legs to present surfaces on said legs extending laterally to said longitudinal plane for resisting skids in longitudinal direction of said cleat.
 2. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 1 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.
 3. A cleat for a traction drive belt of a snowmobile comprising a channel-shaped structure having a substantially planar base, a pair of legs formed integral with and extending outwardly from said base on oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base, at least one of said oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base being formed into a plurality of smooth curves in the longitudinal direction, the outer face of the leg extending from said maRgin formed into a plurality of smooth curves undulating with the curved margin at the junction area of said base and said leg, the undulating face extending to the outwardly extending edges of said leg so that said leg and edges thereon thereby undulate toward and away from a longitudinally extending plane normal to said base to present surfaces on said leg extending laterally to said longitudinal plane for resisting skids in the longitudinal direction of said cleat.
 4. The cleat of claim 3 in which each of said oppositely disposed longitudinal margins of said base has a plurality of smooth curves in the longitudinal direction and each of said legs undulates with said curved margins.
 5. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 4 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.
 6. The cleat of claim 4 in which the offset distance of adjacent undulations from said longitudinally extending plane normal to said base is greater than the thickness of the material of said legs.
 7. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 6 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.
 8. The cleat of claim 3 in which the offset distance of adjacent undulations from said longitudinally extending plane normal to said base is greater than the thickness of the material of said leg.
 9. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 8 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt.
 10. A traction drive belt comprising a belt with a plurality of the cleats of claim 3 attached thereto, said cleats being spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the belt with the longitudinal margin of said base of said cleats corresponding to the lateral dimension of the belt. 